The original swirls are just a thin layer of paint, floated on the surface of a tank of water and then the bodies are dipped in and the paint sticks to the primer. Then they're cleared over once they're dry
Complain to Steve about the JEM/UV LINEUP here (no long winded rants elsewhere)
On the eve of the JEM20th announcement, it has become necessary to start a single, organized, contained thread where Ibanez customers of past and present can convey their dissatisfaction of the JEM/UV line to Steve Vai (and indirectly to Ibanez). Some of you are misguided in that you think Ibanez has any control or say over the JEM line, aside from pricing and distribution. They do not.
Here is an estimated breakdown of who controls the Ibanez JEM line. Sure it's slightly exaggerated, but the point it makes should be loud and clear.
99.4% control - Steve Vai
00.5% control - Ibanez (ie. pricing and distribution)
00.1% control - laws of physics & machinery
00.0% control - Ibanez customers and Steve Vai fans
If you wish to voice your negative opinion and displeasure with Steve Vai's signature model JEM guitars please do it here and stop littering topics with repitituous rants and raves. Thanks... glen
PS - DO NOT INFILTRATE THIS THREAD WITH JEM20 CRITIQUES AND COMMENTS. THIS IS FOR CONCERNS AND SUGGESTIONS ONLY.
Here is an estimated breakdown of who controls the Ibanez JEM line. Sure it's slightly exaggerated, but the point it makes should be loud and clear.
99.4% control - Steve Vai
00.5% control - Ibanez (ie. pricing and distribution)
00.1% control - laws of physics & machinery
00.0% control - Ibanez customers and Steve Vai fans
If you wish to voice your negative opinion and displeasure with Steve Vai's signature model JEM guitars please do it here and stop littering topics with repitituous rants and raves. Thanks... glen
PS - DO NOT INFILTRATE THIS THREAD WITH JEM20 CRITIQUES AND COMMENTS. THIS IS FOR CONCERNS AND SUGGESTIONS ONLY.
581 - 592 of 592 Posts
Not going to happen, I was hoping for the exact same thing and they just announced the 35th swirl model as a Pia only. The MIJ Jem is dead, only option now is used market on Reverb. What is going to happen in the next few years is Jem’s selling for absurd price tags while Ibanez keep the Pia as the premium Vai guitar.Dear Ibanez -
Please, please, please consider making more swirled Jems and Universes. 30 years ago the Jem PMC and GMC were released and y'all could make a killing taking pre-orders for reissues. Y'all could make a ton of money. Master swirler Darren Johansen from About Time Designs has fallen on hard times recently and could also use the money.
Please take my money! It's right here waiting!
This!!!! It is insane that the last production run of a MIJ Jem in a color that is not white was the 30th anniversary LIMITED edition Jem In 2017 (Green, pink & Yellow). WTF, they are now giving us inferior specs made in Indonesia and a premium guitar MIJ that is not a JeM.Here is my gripe: why is the JEM7VWH the longest running model? Or am I wrong? Is it only because Steve's main performance guitars are EVO and FLO and FLO II?
Have I mentioned that I hate gold hardware?
It also bothers me that part of Steve's motivation for creating the 7VWH was "wanting a more traditional look" (or something along those lines). WHAT?! You are Steve Vai! Pink, Yellow, Green, Eyeballs, Flames, Hearts! You put stickers all over your Stratocaster! You painted your cherryburst Charvel Slime Green! Traditional? When has Steve Vai ever been Traditional?
Rants/Gripes over...
This isn't Ibanez' fault from what I understand. the artist is the one who is consulted on what comes out next and then Ibanez delivers.
I just sold my Jem 7VPWH earlier in the week. As muck as I liked the look, it wasn’t any better than the Genesis RG550 I bought last year. In fact I like the Genesis better, so I kept it.This!!!! It is insane that the last production run of a MIJ Jem in a color that is not white was the 30th anniversary LIMITED edition Jem In 2017 (Green, pink & Yellow). WTF, they are now giving us inferior specs made in Indonesia and a premium guitar MIJ that is not a JeM.
I sold the Jem, and an Epi 335 and an Ibanez AZES31. I’m getting some car work done tomorrow, and should still have enough left over to fund a couple of Ibanez that I made offers on from Reverb.
Holy moly - This is not really JEM related or even JEM adjacent but this thread is 4 years older than my 11 year old daughter.
But I did see Steve last night and it was marvelous.
But I did see Steve last night and it was marvelous.
Ha, the first post here was from 2007...I was still in primary school (and then secondary later that year) and ogling the picture of the JEM 20th in the Thomann ad in rhw October 2007 issue of Total Guitar magazine.
Hoping to find a decent-condition UV777 for a non-terrible price one day. Seems like Ibanez is not making any new MIJ Vai 7-strings anymore?
Hoping to find a decent-condition UV777 for a non-terrible price one day. Seems like Ibanez is not making any new MIJ Vai 7-strings anymore?
follow up to my comment above:
I now own a Lo Pro JEM7VWH (‘00 model)! No longer interested in looking for a Lo Pro Universe unless I find one for a really good price
I think the black PIA looks cool, but the white one looks way to gaudy (even compared to the JEM7VWH). I probably won’t buy one though. What would make me buy one is a GLOSS black finish and a Lo Pro bridge. Both of those can be done with aftermarket mods, but it is already a $3.5k guitar.
maybe in a number of years, I can pick up a used one
I now own a Lo Pro JEM7VWH (‘00 model)! No longer interested in looking for a Lo Pro Universe unless I find one for a really good price
I think the black PIA looks cool, but the white one looks way to gaudy (even compared to the JEM7VWH). I probably won’t buy one though. What would make me buy one is a GLOSS black finish and a Lo Pro bridge. Both of those can be done with aftermarket mods, but it is already a $3.5k guitar.
maybe in a number of years, I can pick up a used one
I would just like to see a new Jem of any kind aside from a black Jr...A new JEM that sold somewhere in the $1,500-$2,200 range would be amazing...Please and thank you!
JEM7VP if you don’t mind it being an Indo guitar.I would just like to see a new Jem of any kind aside from a black Jr...A new JEM that sold somewhere in the $1,500-$2,200 range would be amazing...Please and thank you!
I doubt we will ever see an MIJ JEM sold new for that price. If Ibanez bring back a Japanese JEM, they will probably charge even more than what they are charging for the Pia (which is already $3500).
Leave steve vai alone, the man has gone through enough, let him enjoy his royalties
I'll second this! Ibanez would sell alot of guitars if they re-released many of their older models in the Premium line like they did with the BFP that's been on the market for 8 yrs now. The 7VWH is the staple, but release the PBK, VBK, FP, FP2 just to name a few..........I would just like to see a new Jem of any kind aside from a black Jr...A new JEM that sold somewhere in the $1,500-$2,200 range would be amazing...Please and thank you!
581 - 592 of 592 Posts
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